The Detroit Casino Council has just reached a tentative agreement for new five-year contracts with employees of MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino. Unite Here Local 24 announced the agreement on its X (former Twitter) account, with a video of applause after negotiations concluded.
Culinary Union 226, a Las Vegas hospitality workers’ union, posted “Congratulations to our brothers and sisters in Detroit for winning the best contract ever! #solidarity.” The Las Vegas Strip casino workers just finished negotiations for their own contracts with MGM, Wynn and Caesars last week.
Employees in Las Vegas also showed their solidarity by marched to their own bosses to say they stood with the fellow union employees in Detroit who were still on strike.
Strikes in Detroit have been ongoing for 32 days, including an urge for players to not cross a virtual picket line by playing online casino games until a resolution was reached. The workers even visited the state capitol on November 1, seeking support for their cause.
Casino revenue in the city did decrease by nearly 20% in the month of October, during which many of the strike dates took place. Revenue for November will, no doubt, also be affected.
Workers will now vote whether to ratify the contract. Unite Here Local 24 consists of over 6,000 members in both Michigan and Ohio.
